irreversible
Americanadjective
adjective
-
not able to be reversed
the irreversible flow of time
-
not able to be revoked or repealed; irrevocable
-
chem physics capable of changing or producing a change in one direction only
an irreversible reaction
-
thermodynamics (of a change, process, etc) occurring through a number of intermediate states that are not all in thermodynamic equilibrium
Other Word Forms
- irreversibility noun
- irreversibleness noun
- irreversibly adverb
Etymology
Origin of irreversible
First recorded in 1620–30; ir- 2 + reversible
Explanation
If you can't undo something, it's irreversible. Time is always irreversible, as is the damage done to your skin by too much sun, so be sure to wear sunblock! While you see reverse inside of this word, you wouldn't use it to describe a car that can't go backwards. However, if the car was in an accident and cannot be fixed, you could say that the damage done to the car was pretty much irreversible, in other words the car is totaled.
Vocabulary lists containing irreversible
Messenger
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 7–August 13, 2021
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But I would feel better if you sought out those answers before you make irreversible decisions.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026
The International Committee of the Red Cross demanded a halt to the "war on essential infrastructure" in the Middle East, warning of potential "irreversible consequences" including harm to nuclear facilities.
From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026
Nonetheless, the degradation of the Islamic Republic as a military and nuclear power has been enormous and is likely irreversible.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026
Hormones can be prescribed to help a person develop characteristics associated with their preferred gender rather than their biological sex, and may produce irreversible changes like a deeper voice or breast growth.
From BBC • Mar. 8, 2026
It takes hours, even days, before the irreversible word finally gets around to all the provinces.
From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
